Steve White

We are sad to announce the passing of Stephen C. White, beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, uncle, friend, colleague, veteran, and community member. Steve was born in Moberly, MO on August 4, 1937, as Charles Stephen White and died peacefully at home on November 24, 2023, at the age of 86 from complications of strokes. He is predeceased by his mother Wauneta "Nita" Joyce Ballinger White (later Wauneta McDonald), father Charles Harold White, sister Celia (Bill) Gordon, and niece Cathy Cooksey Schwartz. He is survived by his wife Karin Johnson Reed White, his four daughters, Kelly (Michael) Pieper White, Lisa (Ron) Sears, Robin (Mark) Penney, and Linsey (Jeffery) Krolik, his brother Jim (Gail) White, his niece Donna (Matthew) Ball, grand-niece Molly (Vahan) Schwartz Abyulan, grandchildren Rob Sears, Taryn Sears, Mika (Dan) Pieper-White Kinney, Lucas Pieper-White, Tylar Penney, Ben Krolik, Cameron Krolik, Sam Penney, and Ava Krolik, and great grandsons Maverick Sears and Orion Kinney.Steve grew up on a farm in Moberly, MO until he moved to El Monte, CA at age 12 with his mother, brother, and sister to be near his grandparents, Harold and Anna Jewel Lily Ballinger. After 12 years in the USAF performing aircraft and engine maintenance and electronics and then computer maintenance across the US and in Vietnam, Steve had a long career in computer systems with Burroughs, Storage Tech, Cray Research, and Amdahl - and grew from field engineer to management, leading teams as Vice President and Director. He graduated from Regis University in 1999 with a degree in Business Administration. Steve married his first wife, Delores (Dee) Kelly in 1959, with whom he had two daughters, Kelly and Lisa in 1960 and 1962, divorcing in 1968. He married his second wife, Karin Johnson, in 1971, and had twin daughters, Robin and Linsey, in 1972. He cherished his family above all else. Steve was an amazing father to his four daughters, Kelly, Lisa, Robin, and Linsey. He was very proud of each of them, taught them to ski, camp, drive, make pros and cons lists, help others, skip, survive his rib count tickle, and find their paths, supporting every venture. During retirement, he worked and volunteered to do many things that interested him, helping with a startup in Linsey & Jeff's garage, manning a Forest Fire Lookout at Miami Mountain, near Oakhurst, CA, volunteering in Yosemite National Park with Kelly, at election polls, for the Census Bureau, many food banks, Heifer Ranch in Arkansas, and as a member of the EAA in Mariposa, CA. The Red Cross was his favorite organization and he enjoyed driving donated blood. Steve and Karin were married for 52 years and lived in many parts of the United States: the Seattle area, WA, Atlanta, GA, Richardson, TX, Boulder, CO, many towns in the south San Francisco Bay Area, CA, Asheville, NC, and Oakhurst, CA. For the last ten years of his life, he and Karin lived at Valley Village Retirement Community in Santa Clara, where he was on the Board and was President of the Resident Council and where Karin continues to reside. Every place he lived was his favorite place.He loved to hike, ski, camp, fly airplanes, travel, read, and engage with the community. "The best way to make a friend is to work on something together". He also tried sailing, mountaineering, hang gliding, and woodcarving. He had a private pilot's license and built and flew his own experimental airplane in his sixties and seventies. Steve and Karin enjoyed extensive travels through the United States and Canada in their motorhome. Steve held strong values of teamwork, responsibility, and the value of friendship. He especially treasured people whose word was their bond. As one of Steve's early mentors told him and he adopted as one of his favorite sayings "Come early and dress to play!" And, try to say "Yes" more than "No." He was an inspiring speaker, a member of Toastmasters for many years, as well as a great listener, and a great friend and helper to all. His laugh was hearty and genuine and will be sorely missed.Steve's life will be celebrated at several private events - December 26, 2023 at St. James Episcopal Church in Fremont where part of his ashes will be buried in the memorial garden, January 13, 2024 at Valley Village for a Celebration of Life, April 20, 2024 at a family and friends event at his daughter Robin and son-in-law Mark's house, and summer of 2024 at a scattering of part of his ashes in the high country of Yosemite by his daughters. Donations in Steve's name can be made to the American Red Cross.